As countries discuss options to finalise the guidelines necessary to operationalise the Paris Agreement, they are discussing how to apply common time frames to their nationally determined contributions (NDCs). This paper explores a number of options currently under consideration.
After comparing the pros and cons of various options, the paper argues that a five-year time frame with the opportunity to additionally indicate a 10-year time frame would best support the Paris Agreement’s ambition cycle and implementation of other elements of the Agreement.
This paper analyses the existing legal frameworks within which a possible Sustainable Energy Trade Agreement (SETA) could be negotiated to address energy-related trade governance and the resulting legal challenges and opportunities.